The concept of "being strategic" has become a bit watered down in the business world over the last few years. The phrase is often overused and misinterpreted. So when you truly want to take a more strategic approach (and have your efforts taken seriously), it's important to define and demonstrate precisely what that means.

If you Google synonyms for the word "strategy," you'll see things like "master plan," "grand design," and "blueprint." When it comes to strategic human resources, these terms can help put things into perspective. Your strategic HR plan is like the blueprint for supporting your company's long-term business goals. It's your people operations master plan.